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Local staff deliver over 300 food parcels during COVID outbreak

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FOOD PARCELS: Staff at Ballyspillane Family Resource Centre have donated over 300 food parcels to the community over recent weeks. Pictured were: Connie O'Leary (Manager), Marian McCabe (Community Development Worker), and Reception Team Leaders Sophie Haighway and Norma Costello. Photo: Michelle Crean

By Michelle Crean

One community is working harder than ever during the COVID outbreak as they experienced a sharp increase in demand for their services.

Staff at Ballyspillane Family Resource Centre have been working hard behind the scenes helping source, fill and deliver over 300 food parcels containing non-perishable essential goods as increase in referrals for support suddenly rose.

Since the onset of the pandemic, there's been a particularly high demand for parent and family supports, food parcels, and counselling and mental health services while income generated by FRCs has fallen steeply, according to the results of a survey released by the Family Resource Centre National Forum (FRCNF), the national representative body for FRCs.

Locally is no different as Ballyspillane FRC staff have not stopped working at all as they try to cater for all levels of support requests.

"We have seen a vast in increase in referrals and demand for family support, food parcels and essential basic supplies for young children and babies," Manager of Ballyspillane FRC, Connie O'Leary, told the Killarney Advertiser this week.

"Referrals have come in through the local authority Kerry Community Helpline, Social Work Department, PPFS Kerry and KASI Migrant Centre and Killarney Mental Health Services.

"We haven't stopped working at all. It has increased two fold and there's a huge amount of work being done."

In one week alone the FRC provided 31 food parcels to families in the Killarney community including vouchers for families living in Atlas House Direct Provision Centre, two laptops and a tablet for second level students for homework and educational learning. Family Support Workers facilitated 10 Meitheal check-ins sessions with families and made 29 phone contact calls and seven face to face meetings through social distancing.

"Thankfully with the additional financial support from Tusla and Kerry Prevention Partnership and Family Support we have been able to respond and provide these essential supplies to new families referred to the FRC. We are also linking in with the local SVdP to support the elderly in our communities for Meals on Wheels supports."

She added that South Kerry Development Partnership (SKDP) are delivering the food parcels for them to minimise the spread of the virus from person to person.

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New Streetscapes murals launched at College Square

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A colourful collaboration between the Kerry Local Creative Youth Partnership (LCYP) and the Architecture Kerry Festival at Kerry County Council launched yesterday evening at College Square.

Titled Streetscapes, the open-air public art installation officially opened at 5pm on Thursday, accompanied by a performance from the Killarney Youth Drumming Band THUMP! under the guidance of Urs Wenk from Drum Dance Ireland.


The public art project features a series of wall murals depicting Killarney through the eyes of local children, exploring freedom, play, and potential future evolutions of the townscape.

The artworks reimagine Killarney’s iconic landmarks and streets, blending youthful imagination and curiosity.


Supported under the Creative Ireland Programme, the installation is mounted on the gable wall of Reen’s Life Pharmacy in College Square, where it will remain on public display until March 2027.


Speaking at the launch, Daniel O’Shea, Youth Development Officer at Kerry ETB, stated: “Streetscapes is a wonderful celebration of how children see things. Their creativity brings new perspectives to the townscape, and we are proud to support their ideas and their art through this public artwork.”


Deirdre Enright, Co-Ordinator of the Local Creative Youth Partnership at Kerry ETB, acknowledged the community support behind the initiative: “We are very grateful to Reen’s Life Pharmacy who have shared their built space with us. Huge credit is due to the artistic team from Me+The Moon whose dedication to creativity and to children’s art shine through in this work.”


The project forms part of the annual Architecture Kerry Festival and receives funding through Creative Ireland and the Department of Education and Youth via Kerry ETB and Kerry County Council.


Victoria McCarthy, Festival Organiser and Architectural Conservation Officer at Kerry County Council, welcomed the continued inter-agency project: “It’s always a great event for Architecture Kerry and we are so pleased with this collaboration between public sector organisations. It remains a key feature of the Architecture Kerry programme.”
See next week’s Killarney Advertiser for full photographic coverage of the event.

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Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

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Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

Dr Crokes stalwarts enjoy lake cruise

Dr Crokes GAA Club hosted a special day out for its senior members on Monday, this week, taking a group aged between 70 and 90 on a cruise across the Lakes of Killarney.

Organised by the Dr Crokes Healthy Club committee under its Crokes Cruisers initiative, the event was held to recognise the lifetime contribution made by long-standing members who continue to support club activities behind the scenes.
The group travelled on two vessels, including An Cathal, an open boat operated by local brothers Tony and Mike Fleming. Built to preserve the traditional Killarney lake boat style, it is the only purpose-built, fully accessible boat on the lakes, allowing members with mobility issues and wheelchair users to safely join the two-hour trip.
Following the lake tour, the party gathered on shore for coffee and refreshments provided by Derric McMahon and Harry Clifton of the Ross Castle Garden Cafe.
The initiative forms part of the club’s ongoing community work as a Gold Award winner in the GAA Healthy Club programme.

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